Original Broadcast: September 28, 1947 Written by: Anthony Boucher & Denis Green Starring: Basil Rathbone (Sherlock Holmes) and Nigel Bruce (Dr. Watson)
In this 1947 radio mystery from The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Holmes and Watson are summoned to investigate the strange death of Lady Blenkinsop, an 89‑year‑old woman known for her zest for life and her refusal to surrender to age. Her sudden death — discovered behind a door bolted from the inside — immediately raises suspicion. Suicide is impossible. Murder seems impossible. And yet something is terribly wrong.
When the door is broken down, Lady Blenkinsop is found lifeless, slumped near a glass of ancestral wine… and beside her sits Bobo, her spoiled but fiercely devoted little pug. The dog's reaction to the commotion — barking at some people, shrinking from others — catches Holmes's attention. Something about Bobo's behavior is off, and Holmes realizes that the dog's sudden shift in temperament is not just curious… it's the key to the entire locked‑room puzzle.
As Holmes studies the crime scene, interviews the household, and observes Bobo's "change of mind," he uncovers a carefully engineered deception involving greed, manipulation, and a murderer who believed the perfect crime could be staged behind a bolted door. But Holmes, as always, sees what others overlook — and the dog who changed his mind becomes the witness who never speaks, yet tells the truth.
This episode is a classic example of the Boucher & Green era: clever plotting, sharp dialogue, and the unmistakable chemistry of Rathbone and Bruce at the height of their radio careers.
Across the network at 1001 Stories for the Road, we are approaching the final chapters of H. Rider Haggard's The People of the Mist — and what a terrific story this has been to share. Adventure, danger, lost civilizations, and Haggard's trademark high‑stakes storytelling make this one of the most enjoyable long‑form tales we've brought to the network.
If you haven't tried it yet, start with Chapter 1 here: (link to be added)
It's a fantastic ride, and we think you'll love it.
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Holmes andn Watson have an interesting case that only Holme's keenest senses can sniff out.